A Marion County woman and Sequatchie County man are due for a court appearance Wednesday on multiple counts of child rape stemming from alleged abuse that happened during the past eight months.
William Joe Beene III, 48, of Sequatchie County, and Brandon Sloan "Brandy" Hawkins, 43, of Marion County, each face five counts of child rape linked to incidents involving a child under 10 years old that allegedly happened several times between December 2022 and August, according to court records and a statement from the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Beene and Hawkins are being held without bond pending a hearing in Marion County General Sessions Court on Wednesday, court officials said.
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The first instance of abuse occurred the first week of December 2022, and four more incidents occurred over the ensuing months at Hawkins' home in Marion County, an affidavit filed in Marion County General Sessions Court states. Hawkins allowed Bean to commit the alleged acts while she watched, the affidavit states. Both were arrested Sept. 13.
Beene is represented by Public Defender Ted Engel's office. Staff in Engel's office said the public defender could not offer comment on open cases.
Hawkins is represented by Dunlap lawyer M. Keith Davis. The person who answered the phone at Davis' practice Tuesday said he was out of the office.
Ronnie "Bo" Burnett, Marion County's sheriff, said the department's investigator on the case, detective Beth Raulston, initiated the probe.
"The department was notified by a concerned person and an investigation was launched," Burnett said in a phone interview.
Burnett said the investigation is ongoing and no further information could be released.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.
Marion County Sheriff's Office / Brandon "Brandy" Sloan Hawkins